Career History
Experience
Enterprise Architect and IT Executive with over 20 years of experience in complex, international retail and fashion environments. Extensive background in defining IT strategy and enterprise architecture, guiding large-scale digital transformations, and modernising IT landscapes — combining strategic vision with deep technical expertise and strong organisational and stakeholder awareness.
Current
Arnold Ruijter IT
Owner · Freelance IT Consultant Current
Jan 2026 – Present
Arnold Ruijter IT · Castricum
- Independent IT consultancy providing enterprise, integration, domain and business architecture, IT strategy, roadmaps and governance, and digital & ERP transformation.
- Operating across sectors — from retail and fashion to public sector — at the scale and level that adds most value.
Current Assignment
Interim IT Manager Current
Jul 2026 – Present
Nationaal Warmtefonds · Hilversum
Via Arnold Ruijter IT · Semi-public sector
- Setting up and organizing the IT team — from separate islands into one group, with transparency across its activities.
- Implementing and improving IT processes and procedures to manage support and business needs.
- Building a strong, future-proof foundation.
- Acting as IT stakeholder for a new ERP platform and its orchestration layer.
- Managing vendors and contracts.
- Overseeing audit activities.
- Accountable for the organisation's AI policy, with a phased rollout of Microsoft 365 Copilot across the organisation.
Current Assignment
Interim IT Consultant · Project Leader ESB Tender Current
Mar 2026 – Present
GR IJsselgemeenten · Capelle aan den IJssel
Via Arnold Ruijter IT · Public sector · South Holland
- Leading the European public procurement process (EU aanbesteding) for an Enterprise Service Bus on behalf of GR IJsselgemeenten — a cooperation of municipalities in the South Holland region.
- Authoring core procurement documents: Startnotitie, Aanbestedingsstrategie, and Programma van Eisen (PvE).
- Conducting market consultation to validate requirements and understand the vendor landscape.
- Managing the formal tender procedure via TenderNed, including publication and Nota van Inlichtingen (Q&A rounds with suppliers).
- Evaluating proposals against defined award criteria and preparing the Gunningsadvies (award recommendation).
- Coordinating with legal, IT, and management stakeholders across the participating municipalities throughout the process.
Own Product
Founder & Developer
2026
Vinage · vinage.app
Via Arnold Ruijter IT · Own product
- Designed, built and launched Vinage, a Progressive Web App (PWA) for wine cellar management.
- Developed end-to-end with AI-assisted engineering (Claude Code, JavaScript): from architecture to production.
- Read the full case study →
Background
Previous Employment
EMEA Tech Director
Sep 2024 – Nov 2025
New Balance Europe BV · Amsterdam
- Responsible for Enterprise Architecture within EMEA and alignment with global IT governance.
- Leading the IT team spread across Europe (45 FTE, ±30 external consultants).
- Co-owner of BI Governance program: promoting data quality, governance, and data-driven decision-making.
- Leading European transformation initiatives, including onboarding new countries and rationalizing IT landscapes.
- Promoting standardization, scalability, and security within EMEA.
- Stakeholder management with European leadership, global teams in Boston, and delivery teams in Pune (India).
Director IT Transformation
Nov 2020 – Aug 2024
Karl Lagerfeld Europe BV · Amsterdam
- Responsible for defining and executing the overall IT strategy, Enterprise Architecture, and multi-year roadmap.
- Built a broad IT organization (5 → 25+ FTE) across ERP, BI, security, eCom, infrastructure, and integration.
- Led enterprise architecture; defined principles, reference architectures, and the roadmap for modernization.
- Migrated to modern cloud and SaaS platforms: OKTA, Boomi, Meraki, OneStream, Infor PLM, Akeneo PIM, AuditBoard.
- 60% fewer support issues through network and retail platform modernization.
- Prepared ERP migration to Infor CloudSuite; improved omnichannel and integrations.
Owner (Freelance)
May 2019 – Oct 2020
Ruijter ElaborIT · Castricum
- IT and enterprise architecture advice for retail and fashion clients (including Crocs, McGregor).
- Development of target architectures and standardized business processes.
- Working on EDI, data quality, middleware, eCom (Shopify), and ERP (SAP).
- Coordination between European and US IT teams, including harmonisation of data and integration strategy.
PVH Europe BV · Amsterdam
Apr 2007 – Apr 2019 · 12 years
Sr. Manager ERP Development & Integration
Jan 2016 – Apr 2019
- Led SAP ERP and integration teams (AFS/FMS, HANA, PI/PO, Gateway, FIORI, Sterling).
- Architecture and governance around ERP migration from AFS to FMS.
- Defined enterprise architecture principles and modelled target architectures (including ArchiMate).
- Strengthened OmniChannel, API/Microservices, PIM, and BI capabilities.
- Active role in SOX compliance and alignment with internal/external auditors.
- Transition to Agile/DevOps ways of working.
Manager ICT Integration
Apr 2013 – Dec 2015
- Responsible for integration architecture across multiple brands (Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger).
- Modernized legacy integration landscape; migrated from Sterling to SAP PI.
- Designed middleware, EDI, B2B, and EAI solutions for supply chain, retail, and finance.
- Realized integrations for eCom, CRM, procurement, forecasting, and retail.
Team Lead Integration
Apr 2007 – Mar 2013
- Supported integration of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger systems, including migration from AS400 to SAP.
- Design of middleware interfaces and integration standards for scalability and efficiency.
- Migrated A2A interfaces from Sterling to SAP PI; supported concession and consignment models.
Business Systems Analyst Integration
Sep 2005 – Mar 2007
Tommy Hilfiger Europe BV · Amsterdam
- Developed and maintained SAP interfaces using Gentran Sterling; supported B2B and EAI integrations.
- Led eInvoicing projects and external system integrations; modeled processes.
- Interface development for retail, order, and forecasting systems.
Data Manager & EDI Coordinator
2002 – 2005
Vomar Voordeelmarkt · Alkmaar
- Managed retail system data, article creation, and supplier information; supported store operations and reporting.
- Contributed to EDI implementation and warehouse logistics system rollout; trained staff and coordinated go-live support.
- Delivered process improvements and documentation for commercial department efficiency.